Alleged kidnapper arrested after pursuit; drugs, weapons found in car

WILLOWS — An Oregon man being sought for an alleged kidnapping was arrested by the California Highway Patrol on Thursday morning.

CHP Officer John Martin was driving south near County Road 60 on Interstate 5 when he observed a suspect speeding at about 6:30 a.m., officer Jeff Cobb said. As the driver turned onto County Road 57, Martin caught up and turned on his lights.

The driver, 24-year-old Joshua Anthony Bond, of Brookings, Ore., failed to yield, Cobb said. Bond continued speeding through Willows until he finally stopped at a dead-end road on Murdock Avenue, north of Maple Street.

Bond was then arrested without incident.

Martin reportedly found a shotgun, two pistols, a 9 mm submachine gun, numerous rounds of ammunition, one pound of methamphetamine and half a pound of marijuana inside the 1997 Buick Regal being driven by Bond, Cobb said. During the pursuit, Bond also reportedly threw a pistol out of the car's window. The weapon was found by a citizen and collected by CHP, he added.

Bond was initially booked into the Glenn County Jail in Willows on charges of being a driver of a vehicle carrying a concealed firearm, transporting a controlled substance for sale, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded firearm, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale and evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for the safety of others.

However, an outstanding arrest warrant out of Del Norte County was found just before 11 p.m. Thursday, according to the Glenn County Sheriff's Office. The warrant charges criminal conspiracy and kidnapping.

Bond and two other people — Mike Waters and Bonnie Steele — allegedly kidnapped a Crescent City man and stole his car, according to a Del Norte County Sheriff's Office press release. The suspects reportedly took the man to Kerbyville, Ore., and threatened him with a firearm.

They were reportedly driving a 1993 Ranger Splash, according to the DNCSO. Warrants were issued for Bond, Waters and Steele.

Bond's bail for the warrant and the recent charges is set at $402,000.